The KNU has been fighting for self determination and autonomy in one of the world’s longestcivil wars. Following Myanmar's independence from the British in 1948, the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) was formed to fight against the central government. This name was later changed to the KNU.

Economic liaison office

1. Mawlamyine (22/11/13)2. Pa-an3. Yangon

Alliances: Karen armed groups

Contact:Website: http://www.knuhq.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenNationalUnionHQEmail:
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Phone:05822723/ 09425032747

Meetings

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Date

Location

Armed Group Rep

Govt Rep

Details

1

30/09/11

Mae Sot, Thailand

Col Aung

Preliminary meeting: KNU leaders told the government delegation that they didn’t want to hold peace talks with state-level officials because they lacked the authority to reach a binding agreement. The meeting was attended by Christian community leaders, Buddhist monks and MP Saw Boe Ni.

Discussions on maintaining the ceasefire and the opening of liaison offices took place. There was a ceremony for the presentation of two vehicles for use at KNU liaison offices in Hpa-an and Dawei.KNU delegates included: Chief of General Staff General Saw Mutu Say Poe.Govt delegates included: U Khin Yi from the Union level Peace-making group, Kayin State Chief Minister U Zaw Min, state ministers and other officials.

9

26/06/12

Mae Sot, Thailand

Zipporah Sein

Aung Min

Discussions centered on liaison offices that could serve for improving communication and negotiations between the KNU and govt. The KNU believed this could help maintain the ceasefire and work out problems resulting from ongoing land confiscation by the Myanmar military.

the Karen National Union and MPC officials representing Myanmar govt met at the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) in Rangoon on 15 June 2013 and talked about a ceasefire “Code of Conduct” both delegations plan to meet again in July.

14

23/08/2013

Yangon

RCSS + KNU

MPC

Ethnics' technical team led by KNU and RCSS discuss on Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with MPC technical team.

UPWC president Sai Mauk Kham expected to get nation wide ceasefire in October. (1) commitment of ceasefire (2) framework from both sides negotiation for political dialouge (3) all inclusiveness in Conference (4) midterm working process negotiations is proposed by KNU- RCSS. It's an informal meeting.

16

28/09/2013

Naypyitaw

KNU leaders total 9 including mutu say poe

UPWC/ Commander in Chief

informal meeting KNU leaders (9) meet government and commander in chief also for second time in Nay pyi taw according to The voice daily.

KNU meets taninthari government for 4 points1. To return the KNU hold villages during the war in 19972. Military liaison office to regulate the military action in the region under bridgate (4)3. Karen language teaching in schools and4. to cooperate in development for regions.

19

18/12/2013

Taungoo

KNU

Police force . border affair mimistry

informal meeting

20

01/01/2014

Myawaddy, Karen State

Karen Arms Groups 4

UPWC

informal meeting Karen New Year Ceremony held in myawaddy, 4 arms group together. Aung Min and MPC attend the ceremony.

Informal MeetingAs well, Gen. Mutu Say Poe also met president Thein Sein at his Leltaw house (farm house) in Naypyitaw today at 5 p.m. It's fifth times meeting the KNU leader and the president. They discuss about peace.

Intormal Meeting KNU held an emergency meeting in Law Khee Lar, the HQ of KNU, on July 14. They discussed about the NC and chose the representatives who are going to attend EAOs meeting in Laiza.

27

05/08/2014

MPC in Yangon

KNU brigade 1, 4, 6, and 7

Col Aung Lwin (Karen border affairs minister) and MPC team

Intormal MeetingThey discussed about regional development in Karen such as how to cooperate for the development project. JICA, Japan Plattform, Nippon Foundation and staff from Japanese Embassy attended the meeting.

Developments

Agreed points:

to start the necessary arrangements for monitoring, analyzing and rectifying the peace process The Karen Baptist Convention (Burma) has invited officials from the KNU and community based organizations from the Thai-Myanmar border to attend a meeting to explain the ongoing ‘peace talks’ with the government (17/11/2012)

Political:

to guarantee life, security and freedom from fear

to develop the state to build confidence amongst the Karen

to stop forced labour, arbitrary taxation and extortion of villagers

to release political prisoners and resolve rehabilitation and land problems for civilians19/03/2012 Myanmar pardoned Nyein Maung, a member of the Karen National Union (KNU) central committee

Resettlement:

national registration cardsstarted

Military

ceasefire Code of conduct - 34 points

Ongoing issues:

relocation of government troops07/09/2012 KNU requested for the government to move 90 of their 300 military bases areas from KNU-controlled territories

allow national media outlets to participate in the peace process to provide accurate information about developments

support the basic needs of the people and ensure that development projects have the full participation and support of residents

set out clear principles for all parties to ensure a genuine peace process

legitimate representatives involved in negotiations, provide adequate time for their consultation with respective constituencies and establish a clear roles for third parties

implement a flexible process that guarantees progress will lead towards sustainable peace, all parties speak frankly, avoid using words that are easily misunderstood or misconstrued

Repercussions

Internal conflict: KNLA Commander-in-Chief Gen. Mutu Say Poe and Central Committee members David Taw and Roger Khin were dismissed by the KNU for violating protocol by visiting Pa-an the previous week to set up a liaison office. (02/10/2012). However the KNU executive committee managed to iron out differences resulting from divisions over the peace talks with the government during the Central Standing Committee (CSC) (27/11/2012). Both Mutu Say Poe and Roger Khin were reinstated. Mutu Say Poe was eventually elected as the new chairman in December, 2012. (21/12/2012) David Taw died shortly after his dismissal resulting from deteriorating health conditions.

Clashes

Skirmishes have decreased signiﬁcantly as a result of the new ceasefire and ongoing peace talks with the government. However Karen state remains heavily militarised resulting in some clashes between the KNLA and Myanmar army.

Reports are circulating that government troops are preparing for an offensive against the KNLA’s Brigade 5 in northern Karen state after the brigade barred them from conducting gold mining and other businesses in rebel-held territory. (03/01/2013)

Partnership

Facilitators

The Dawei Princess Company is involved in facilitating the peace process between the KNU and Myanmar government. Company boss U Ko Ko Maung and Managing Director U Ngwe Soe have attended all the peace meetings between the KNU and government. Dawei Princess Company finances and arranges the meetings and travel for the government peace delegation. Karen News also reported that they paid for the setup and the running cost of the KNU liaison office in Dawei (Tavoy) town. The Dawei Princess company, also known as Hein Yadana Moe, is a sub-contractor in the $60B Dawei Special Economic Zone, which includes part of the KNU’s controlled area.

International Partnerships

MPSI

Kyauk Kyi Project Pilot project:​ 2010 - present

A $5M (US) pilot project has been initiated in Kyauk Kyi Township, Bago Region. The project will focus primarily on resettling the estimated 1.5M Karen internally displaced people (IDPs). But it will also be used to provide food, farming equipment, clearing land mines and establishing liaison offices. The project that’s receiving funding through the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) is based on a needs assessment undertaken by the KNU-related IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) assistance group, CIDKP (Committee of Internally Displaced Karen People), and also involves an initial non-technical survey of landmines in target areas. Current status: Monitoring and Evaluation (Jan.15, 2013), As of September, 2012 the CIDKP distributed 517 bags of rice to villagers. Over the next few months, it’s expected that other items such as different food products, mosquito nets and cooking utensils will also be delivered.

The KNU released a statement calling for tri-partite dialogue so that all ethnic and political groups can be represented and a consensus can be reached and provide a stable foundation for genuine peace and democracy in our country. 21/09/2012

Call to immediately end all Myanmar military operations in Kachin state. 21/09/2012

KNU Chairman Tamla Baw: “Though the government claims to be building peace with armed ethnic nationality forces, it is my analysis that, in practice, it is working with an emphasis only on business matters, rather than dialogue for peace with a political essence,” he said. 09/08/2012

KNU Vice President David Takapaw: says INGOs are pressuring the KNU to talk with the government. 02/07/2012

KNU chief calls for close scrutiny of Myanmar. 14/05/2012

The KNU expressed hope that the peace negotiations would be more effective with the inclusion of the president, vice president and top military officers of the peace committee. 10/05/2012

KNU said the government and President Thein Sein appear to be sincere about implementing peace. (03/05/2012, 08/04/2012)

Ceasefires Are Not Peace: KNU lays out crucial steps to achieve lasting peace in Burma. 22/02/2012

Four-point statement calling for the withdrawal of all government troops from its controlled areas: a first-stage ceasefire, consolidating the ceasefire, political talks, political cooperation. 22/02/2012

KNU President Tamla Baw said that recent agreements reached with the Myanmar government were just “small initial steps” on the road to peace, and urged the Karen people to continue working for greater autonomy. 31/01/2012